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2 swans-sheet 2Q FRUIT URIBE'.

Patented Feb'. 5, 1884.

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y UNITED STATES PATENT FRUIT-DRIER.

`SPECIlICA'lION forming part of" lI etters Patent No. 293,073, dated-February 5, 1884. nppncnnmi filed March 2,1383. (No man.)

To aZZ whom, t may concern.:

Be 1t known that I, TRUMAN J. Pennen, a

`citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Oakland, Alameda county, State of CaliforniaLhave made and invented certain ,new and useful Improvements in Kilns for other like matter and substances, and making them fit for packing, storing, and future use. Such apparatus are generally known as fruitdriers.7

My improvement-s include a novel means of making such evaporating or drying process entirely automatic, by which the action upon the matter being treated is stopped and suspended as soon as a certain standard or condition of dryness in the substance is produced, and this by mechanical means independent of the aid or care of an attendant. It includes, also, novel mechanical means of operating` a set of valves for controlling the communication between the fruit-holding compartment and the air trunks, ducts, or passages in the apparatus, by means of which mechanism the diierence between the weight of the fruit or matter when introduced into the compartment and the weight when it is properly dried is made to operate the valves and shut onD the further operation of the compartment. It includes, also, a novel combination, construction, and arrangement of furnace or heater, and of airtrunks or conducting-passages for directing and guiding both the hot air from the heater andthe `moisture-laden air from the `drying-compartments, bymeans of which a uniform circulation of air and an'` even temperature are obtained throughout all the compartments of which the drying apparatus may be composed.

The following description fully explains'the nature of my said improvements and the manner in which l proceed to construct, apply, use, and operate them.

. The accompanying drawings herein referred to show in Figure l the front elevation of a drier constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the scaleconnection of the escape-due with the chimney. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section through the fire-box or heater of the appara tus; Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view taken transversely through a drying chamber or compartment and its tray, holder, or platform.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken vertically and at right angles to the sections, Figs. 3 and 5,

`showing the manner in which the tray, holder,

or platform in` a drying-compartment is suspended andbalanced.

A represents a chamber of rectangular form, closed in on all sides bywalls a a and bottom b', while the top is `formed by part b2, which covers the chamber A and also the airpassages D E, and corresponds `with the bottom piece, b2, which forms the bottom of thel apparatus. y y

B B are a number of iloors vor` horizontal partitions dividing the chamber into separate independent compartments. The top surface of each iloor B slopes toward one side of the chamber, to lead off any'` moisture produced by condensation. An outlet aperture, n, through the side wall ,and4 at the bottom of the slope permits this moisture to discharge into a vertical channel, E, ruiming along one side of the chamber A from top` to bottom, and connecting with or terminating in a bottom compartment, E". This compartment or escape-Hue E is situated beneath the cham-V ber A, and is connected to the"chimney G by the passage or short pipe 6*, as seen in Fig. A passage, D, conducts the cold airfrom the opening X around the passages E E` and connects with the bottom air-box, D', which extends beneath the fire-chamber, and is connectedby a side passage, D2, with the heaterchamber.

To form the air-chamberD D, Src., the sides e e are extended beyond the ilue E E', and inclosed by an end, a, and top and bottom, bt Z, The furnace is a simple sheet-metalbox, F.

and is provided with a solid metal bottom' plate or grate-surface, F2, set on a level with the door. This construction of furnace does away with the usual ash-pit underneath the grate-surface.

The heating-chamber K is located above the fire-box, and is provided with a horizontal perforated roof or plate, l?. This plate l? forms also the bottom of a heat-distributing chamber, I-I, and the openings in the parti-.

tion or plate Bregister with the passages in the chamber I-Lmade by the partitions s s.

The partition I, between the fire-box and heating-chamber, is formed with deep corrugations or bends, which run up toward the plate l), and also project down into the firebox, so that deep pockets 7' are formed. By means of this corrugated form of partition a large amount of heating-surface is exposed to the action of the iire.

A bridge-wall or apron, i, extends up from the grate-surface F2, at ornear the rear end, at an inelination,and deflectstheheat-flames and gases upward into the pocketsj.

The furnace-door F is provided with a damper, f.

The flue-chamber I-I for distributing the hot air is provided with a sloping roof, H.

The interior space of the chamber H is divided into a number of ilues, channels, or conductors of equal area-one for each compartment B. This division is made by fixing the required nulnber of sheet-metal plates S' S at regular distances apart, from side to side of the compartment H, in such manner that each channel or passage leads up to an inletaperture, m, in the end Wall of the chamber A, and connects through it with a compartment B. These inlets admit the heated air from the channels into the compartments, and they are controlled by valves n, by which the air is let into and shut off at the required times.

The openings in the plate I from the space K into these air-passages are also controlled by sliding1 plates or valves p, to be operated from the outside of the furnace through the medium of rods or handles, so that the air may be entirely shutl off from one or more of the passages at will; or the air may be kept out of them all and confined inA the heating-space K until the required temperature is reached. The passage and direction of the air is thus through the passage D D DL and inlets or lues into the compartments B, and thencedownward through the fruit into the bottom space below the trays or holders, and out through the openings n into the exhaust-air passage E. These two openings m n in each compartment are provided withvalves, the movements of which in one direction uncover the aperture and give full circulation to the air 5 but in the other direction they close the openings and arrest all further operation in that compartment.- Each compartment is separate from the others in respect of its air supply and exhaust and the operation of its valves, and an automatic valveactuatin g mechanism is provided to each compartment. This mechanism consists of a short post or rod, Z, fixed to the tray-supporting platform, and a lever, Z', pivoted ata fixed point, ZZ-such as the side of the compartment-and connected at the other end to the valve a. A slot, Z3, in this lever receives a pin on the end of the post Z, so that the movements of the platform up and down will produce motion in the lever and turn the valve. Each platform T is suspended by links y a/-' tWo at each side-fromasystem of levers, yyl, that are attached to the top or roof of the compartment from points of suspension gf if, so that the platform then constitutes a scale, of which the beam or lever S is situated outside the compartment. Connection of the end of the principal lever of the system is made with the scalebeam S by carrying out the end of the lever through a slot in the side of the' compartment, and then covering it by asmall box, u. The connecting-rod or link Works through an aperture in the top of this box, and is attached to the end of the .beam S. A'bracket, t, on the outside of the case A gives support for the fulcrum of the scale-beam, and the vveight WV at the outer end supports the platform thus suspended. The platform T is a simple frame Without a bottom, and having ledges to receive and support the tray, which is introduced into the compartment at the front through an opening closed by a drop lid or door. The adjustment of these parts is such that where a tray with green or undried fruit or other substance is placed upon the `platform the Weight of the fruit is determined by means of the scale-beam,

and then the loss in Weight, when properly dried, being known or ascertained from a suitable scale or reference-table, the Weight is set at that point on the scale. By this adjustment the tray an d contents then bear down the platform and throw open the valves, and this condition of parts continues until, by the operation of the apparatus, the substance being dried has become snfliciently reduced in wei ght by evaporation of the juices to allow the platform to rise. By such action the levers are moved and the valves close. By such means I make the evaporating or drying process selfregulating, for the difference in Weight of a fruit or substance when green or fresh and after it is dried, being first determined or given, the apertures connecting the drying compartment with the hot-air supply and exhaust are automatically closed, and the evaporation lis arrested as soon as the substance has beenbrought toa certain standard weight or condition of dryness.

The required ratio or difference between the Weight of a substance when green and when in a dried state lcan be ascertained from a suitable scale or table previously calculated and arranged for reference. As a means of euablingthe same to be quickly ascertained withoutv calculation, I have devised and constructed a novel attachment for the scale-beam and to be used in connection with it. This attach- IOC IIO

ment consists of two y smaller supplemental bars or beams', ww, placed in slots in the head ofthe weight W and carried by it. The adj acent edges of each bar are notched or provided with a rack to engage with a pinion fixed on a short shaft, lufl, that runs through the head of the weight W, and has a milled head on the outside. These rods or beams are marked or provided with certain scales to indicate the standard weight of a unit or some given quantity of the various fruits and substances to be treated, and the outer end of the lower one has a pointer, w, to run upon the scale-beam' below.

The operation of the device is then as follows: The weight having been set on the beam to find the weight of the substance on the platform inside, the smaller rod or beam is then moved by turning the pinion `until the scale on this beam at the point where it issues from the weight WV indicates to the operator the loss in weight of such substance when dried.

, The scale being left at this point, the weight `ment and action of the weight upon the scalebeam is not affected by the increased weight of the outward rod, as it otherwise would be if one rod were employed. rlhe smoke-pipe 7L of the heater is carried up through the center of the stack, and terminates at a point above the top and under the hood or cap. The heat olotained from this pipe has the effect to induce, as well as to assist, the upward moving column of air in the stack, and thereby to maintain a constant circulation. The trays containing the fruit or substance to be dried are slippedinto the compartment upon the supporting suspended frames or platforms, and the doors 4dIZ being'blosed, the operation of the apparatus is asfollows: The air from without is admitted through the aperture X near the top of the air-trunk, and, in passing down between the outer wall and the sheet-metal partitions that divide the space into two fines, this stream of cold air becomes heated to a considerable extent, and reaches the heatingchamber in a more or less dry state. From the heater-chamber the hot air is then conducted and distributed equally to all the compartments through the inclined flue or passage. Each compartment is supplied directly from the heater by the air-ilue, and at the same time the-temperature of the air supplied to all the compartments is uniform in each compartm ent. The inlet for the air into each compartment being above the top of the tray, descends upon the matter or substance spread thereon in its downward course through the tray and into the space beneath, is induced `this heated moisture ittends to produce a kvacuum in the flue, and thus accelerate the circulation of the entire column of air passi ing through the compartment and through the supply and the exhaust flues. By changing the size of one opening with respect to that of i the other, boththe temperature and degree of circulation of the air can be, regulated. For instance, by partly closing the cold-air flue and keeping the exhaust-flue entirely open, the volume of air will notbe so great; but the temperature and the rapidity of the current will be increased, while by reversing the adjustment or Vincreasing the area of the inlet' over the exhaust, the current will be reduced, but the hi ghest possible temperature will be reached.

For ordinary evaporation all the valves should be open; `but in heating such material as starch, requiring a high and-rapid circulation, the cold-air flue is partially closed and the exhaust kept open. c

For baking `bread andbleaching or coloring fruit, the exhaust is closed and the cold-air flue kept open. i

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a drying apparatus of the character described, a closed compartment having commu nicati on through valve-controlled apertures with ilues, passages, or other conductors that supply air to and carry it off from said compartments, and a suspended scale or weighing platform within the compartment, to support the matter to be treated, andwhich is provided with a device to indicate the weight of the supported matter, and a connection with or to the valves of the air-aperture by means of mechanism that causes the said valves to be operated by the movement of the platform.

2.v The combination,with a drying-compartment through which air from the heater or hotair generator is caused to circulate, of a supportingplatform suspended or balanced from a scale-beam, to hold the matter to be dried, a set of valves to control air inlets and outlets to and from them compartment, and mechanism connecting said valves and suspended platform,whereby the reduction of the matter by the drying process to ai certain standard or degree of dryness will cause the platform to risc and close the valves.

3. The combination,with a drying-compartment, B,.&c., inlet and exhaust fines, passages, or conductors E I), &c., of valves governing the apertures leading into said iiues, a suspended scale-platform placed in said compartment, to receive and support the matter to be IOO IIO

dried, but having its weighing-beam and balance locatedvoutside ofthe compartment, and mechanism connecting the said valves and platform to cause the upward movement of the platform to operate the valves.

4. The combinati0n,\vith a drying-compartment having inlet and outlet apertures coniniunieatin g with air ll ues,pasages,or conductors through apertures controlled by valves m 11, of the tray receiving and supporting platform. T, suspended and balanced from a scalebeam, S, by a system of levers, as described, and the pivoted valve-actu ating levers Z Z2 Z, and posts or rods Z Z on the platform.

5. The combination of a closed compartment, B, supply and exhaust flues, passages, orconductors, inlets and outlets controlled by valves m a, and situated one above and the otherbcneath the supportiiig-platform, and a balanced tray-supporting platform, T, connected with a Weighing-beam, by which the weight of the contents of the tray can be determined, and mechanism connected with and operated by the-upward movement ofthe platform, to act upon and close the val ves.

6. The combinationm'ith acase or chamber having separate drying-eoinpartments, of the air ilues, passages, or conductors D D D2, leading from near the top on one side down the side and under the drying-compartments and the iire, the furnace or heater-chamber K, and the hot-air-distributing chamber H, having independent lues or conductors-one for each compartment-said ilues leading from above the furnace and entering the dryingcompartments on the side opposite to the air-- passage, substantially as described.

7..'Tl1e heater having a closed fuel-supporting plate and an air-flue delivering over it, the corrugated top formed into deep pockets j, and the top plate or roof, P, lyingj ust above the corrugated plate, and provided with openings registerng with the i'lucs in the chamber H, as set forth.

TRUMAN J. PEACE. [L s] Witnesses:

EDWARD E. OsoRN,

F. M. DOWNEY. 

